The WBA ordered the undisputed cruiserweight champion Alexander Usyk to defend his title against the Russian champion “in recess" Denis Lebedev, who had not boxed for more than a year. He will fight next on September 7 against the Turkish Hizni Altunkaya. "Until October 3-4, negotiations are in progress, if not, then there should be a bidding. The big chance that the fight will take place within six months," said Vadim Kornilov Lebedev’s manager.
"The WBA obliged us to begin negotiations, which is required by the organization's resolution, but since Usyk is scheduled to fight Tony Bellew on November 10 or November 17, and Lebedev is scheduled to fight on September 7 it is likely that we will postpone this negotiations a little", said Alexander Krasyuk, Usyk’s promoter. “WBA obliges to negotiate not individuals, but the champion and the challenger, and what personality occupies this position is a matter of time: today there is one champion and tomorrow he is another. It’s not some specific person. Will the WBA belt be at stake in a fight against Bellew? Yes, all four Usyk’s belts will be at stake in this fight."
Earlier it became known that Alexander Usyk would not vacate his championship belts. The Ukrainian plans to continue performing at the cruiserweights.
